How It All Began...The History of Westside, Chapter 1

By Rev. Carol Bodeau

In our new "Westside Stories" format, we are sharing more personal narratives from the voices of our community, and so it's appropriate to also share a little of the history of this community as well. In upcoming posts, I'll be sharing snippets from the much longer history

A vintage book titled "WUUC History" rests on a wooden table. Its weathered leather cover and gilded lettering evoke a sense of timeless knowledge and tradition, or something like that.

of our congregation, documented by many Westside foundational members. The history of keeping congregational history can be convoluted, as this excerpt reveals…many voices, many collectors, over long periods of time make our historical records more of a patchwork than a whole-cloth narrative. But, in a wonderful way, that lets us hear more voices from Westside's past!

Here are some important dates from the founding of Westside. Note the role of Alex Hild in our founding, as he becomes an important record-keeper and historian for the congregation.

Enjoy!

Rev. Carol

1949, February

Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church (TVUUC) was organized.

1950, February

Oak Ridge Unitarian Church (ORUC) was organized.

1980

The TVUUC Board considered sponsoring a new congregation to alleviate growth pressure.

1983, November

TVUUC formed a committee to study alternatives to accommodate growth.

1984, December

Interested members of TVUUC learned of possible support from the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) for a new congregation. Seven members of TVUUC agreed to initiate the process and work for establishing a new congregation. The seven members were: Cameron and Suzanne (Lake) Coates, Alex and Nancy Hild, Randy and Deb Mitchell, and Phil Hamlin.

1985, January

The President of TVUUC (Pat Bing) appointed a New Congregation Committee, which consisted of Cameron Coates, Alex Hild, Phil Hamlin, Randy Mitchell, and Doug Walters, Extension Coordinator for the Thomas Jefferson District.

1985, February

The TVUUC congregation voted to support a new congregation as part of a three-phase process to improve facilities and to expand.

1985, April

Alex Hild attended the New Congregation Organizers Training Course for one-week at the UUA in Boston to learn the twelve steps necessary to begin a new Unitarian Universalist (UU) congregation. Alex was designated the New Congregation Planner and began giving adult education classes at TVUUC to acquaint prospective members of the new congregation on the necessary actions to create a new church.